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en-usEngadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronicsCopyright 2017 AOL Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/02/blue-satellite-wireless-headphones-review/https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/02/blue-satellite-wireless-headphones-review/https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/02/blue-satellite-wireless-headphones-review/#comments

After making its name building microphones for both amateurs and professionals, Blue made the leap to headphones back in 2014. Its first model, the Mo-Fi, featured a built-in amplifier and the company followed up with three others, including a planar magnetic set that also has an onboard amp. All of those options were wired, though, and if we've learned anything about "courageous" smartphone makers these days, the headphone jack is on its way out. To cater to the wireless craze, Blue announced its first wireless headphones, the Satellite, at CES in January. While this $400 model features and amp for top-notch audio, the Satellite lacks a key selling point for headphones: comfort.

Blue announced its first wireless headphones back at CES, but now you can finally get your hands on a pair. The company's latest model, Satellite, has Bluetooth 4.1 and Apt-X to keep the wireless streaming from your go-to device going strong. To further enhance the high-quality audio, there's a built-in headphone amp. Similar to some of Blue's existing headphone models, you can turn that feature off to save battery or at times to you may not need it -- like when you're listening to podcasts.

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For beginners looking to branch out into DIY recording, we recommend the Tascam US-2×2. After spending 30 hours researching the category, discussing key features with audio pros, and recording instrument and vocal samples on five models for evaluation by a panel of trained listeners, we chose the US-2×2 as our favorite. We found it to be the easiest model to work with, and setup in most cases is plug and play. It's also one of the more affordable two-channel USB audio interfaces on the market.

Blue's USB microphones have been a podcasting staple since the Snowball was introduced in the mid 2000s. Before then, the company had years of experience crafting professional-grade studio mics that became the go-to options for producers and engineers. It's a reputation that Blue maintains to this day. In 2014, the company decided to tackle headphones with Mo-Fi -- a wired model with a unique hinged design and a built-in audiophile-grade amplifier. Then, at CES this week, Blue took the wraps off three new models: the planar magnetic Ella; Mo-Fi's successor, Sadie; and the wireless Satellite. Soon after, I sat down with CEO John Maier to find out how the company put its microphone expertise to use in a range of headphones.

Blue may be a company known more for its studio-grade and USB microphones, but in 2017 it's taking a deeper dive into headphones. After the 2014 introduction of Mo-Fi, a set of headphones with a built-in amplifier, the company released Lola last year. Although that second set didn't feature an amp, it did still offer Blue's rather unique hinged design cut out the added heft. At CES today, the company already took the wraps off of the wireless Satellite headphones and it also has two other models that are set to ship early this year.

Blue is a name most people associate with USB microphones for podcasting and desktop recording. But the brand has a stellar reputation for studio mics as well. Back in 2014, the company released its first set of headphones, Mo-Fi, which featured a built-in amp to drive high-quality sound. At a time when headphone jacks are becoming scarce, wired headphones are an increasingly tough sell. Against that backdrop, Blue has a wireless option it's debuting off at CES -- and it still features an amplifier to preserve top-notch audio quality even after nixing the cable.

This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read their continuously updated list of deals atTheWirecutter.com.

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Blue Microphones' gear has been the go-to choice for novice podcasters and audio pros for years and now the company has yet another option for mobile recording. The new device is called the Raspberry: an iOS and USB microphone that offers plug-and-play audio tracking without the headaches of a lengthy setup process. The ease with which you can be up and running has become a key feature for Blue's gear so it's nice to see that continue with this new offering.

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aduioavbluebluemicrophonesgeariosmicmicrophoneraspberryrecordingusbTue, 27 Sep 2016 09:00:00 -040021|21479607https://www.engadget.com/2016/01/16/blue-lola-headphones/https://www.engadget.com/2016/01/16/blue-lola-headphones/https://www.engadget.com/2016/01/16/blue-lola-headphones/#comments
When it comes to headphones, comfort is at the top of my list of demands. It even edges out sound quality. Blue's Mo-Fi headphones were announced last year, and while they offered great sound, a built-in amp added an uncomfortable amount of bulk. Thankfully, the company announced a lighter version, the Lola, just before the end of the year. These new headphones weigh less, but that's because they don't have that on-board headphone amplifier. The new model is $100 cheaper, but is it still worth the investment without the fancy tech?
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audioavbluebluemicrophonesgadgetrygadgetsgearheadphonesirllolaover-earoverearSat, 16 Jan 2016 14:00:00 -050021|21297813https://www.engadget.com/2015/10/27/blue-microphones-lola-headphones/https://www.engadget.com/2015/10/27/blue-microphones-lola-headphones/https://www.engadget.com/2015/10/27/blue-microphones-lola-headphones/#comments

Blue, a company known primarily for its microphones, announced its Mo-Fi headphones last year. They sound great, but the cans are quite hefty. Mo-Fi houses a built-in amp to handle the high-quality audio, so the extra weight is necessary, albeit somewhat uncomfortable during extended listening sessions. Now, the company has a comfier headphone option with Lola. These new headphones leave out the amp, which cuts out the extra weight, and feature a slimmer headband. Without the bulk of the Mo-Fi, Blue says Lola brings the high-fidelity sound in a package that's more cozy.

Blue Microphones, as the company's name suggests, specializes in recording equipment, from professional studio mics to desktop models to mobile accessories. Today, Blue is breaking into a brand new product category, though not really out of its comfort zone, with the launch of the Mo-Fi headphones. It's a move you may have been expecting, given Blue announced its intentions at the beginning of the year, and has continued to tease this first foray into listening gear ever since. Put simply, the idea is to bring the kind of high-fidelity audio you'd get from a home sound system to other, more portable devices (as long as you're willing to pay for it). Blue's Mo-Fi cans are available in the US today for $350, and will be coming to the UK "soon" for £275.

Blue Microphones have long been the choice of podcasters and recording pros for capturing audio both in-studio and on the go. Now, the audio outfit is looking to tackle hi-fi mobile listening with an effort it's calling Mo-Fi. The company says that "true mobile high fidelity" is what Mo-Fi brings to the table with a line of products coming in spring 2014. "The market is plenty crowded with lo-fi headphones for our mobile devices. But classic hi-fi headphones are too power-hungry for our mobile devices. We are ready for the next innovation in headphones and the market is ready now too," said John Maier, CEO of Blue. Unfortunately, that's about all the detail Blue is spilling at this point, so we'll have to wait to hear more on the gadgets and the hi-fi... er, Mo-Fi tech that'll power 'em. There's a teaser video after the break that flaunts what a appears to be a set of headphones, but that's the only tidbit we have to go on right now. You can, however, click over to the source link below for product previews as they arrive.

If I say "Nessie" your first thought is somewhere in Scotland, right? Well the folks over at Blue are changing your definition of that word forever with their latest microphone. For US$99 you can now record all sorts of things armed with a Mac that has a USB port (sorry Beige G3!)) and it will all sound pretty fantastic.

Design

This is a mic that doesn't take up a lot of space, something that's particularly painful to Blue Snowball users. No more wide tripod base, this is a single solid disc on your desk, and included in the base is both a volume dial for your headphones, and an indicator light that lets you know the mic is connected and powered up (solid white), or muted (pulsing white). Just above where the mic "neck" meets the base is where you plug in your monitor headphones (it's a 3mm audio jack, just above the red switch in the photo). I have been using my EarPods in this setup and they sound just fine. I'm not recording music or anything too complex, so the EarPods do a fine job. I've also used my previous iteration of Apple earphones successfully, so if you have comfy monitor headphones, you're all set.

Functionality

This is a cardioid microphone, so it's good for lessening sound that isn't what you want to pick up. It has a built-in pop filter and built-in shock mount, so two common issues of recording are resolved without additional equipment. You can choose from three preset modes when recording: Vocal, Instruments and a "raw" setting for those who wish to tweak and rejigger audio later on. When you take the Nessie and the cable out of the packaging, you're ready to go; there are no drivers or "management software" to install. And once it's unpackaged, you can tip Nessie's head in all sorts of directions, which is handy if you are looking to use those other modes and record more than just podcasts. Also inside the aforementioned base is an internal shock mount, which teams up with the pop filter to help keep even more incidental noise out of the recording.

Conclusion

If you need a microphone that works in a variety of settings that all involve a horizontal surface to set the mic on, Nessie has excellent sound quality at a very good price. This is a very good mic for someone who might be interested in recording with more than an iPhone, but maybe isn't ready to drop "pro audio" amounts of money.

Pros

Great sound quality

Excellent base design (including volume and shock mount)

Modes available for different use types

Easy to find and use mute button

Cons

Requires a stable horizontal surface (not the best for field recording or saving desk space)

Who is it for?

This is for someone who might be using a USB headset or an iPhone mic and wants to up their audio game with a separate "point and shoot" microphone that can take care of some basic settings, or just record raw audio for more advanced folks.

Many podcasters and musicians love the digital and analog microphones made by Blue Microphone. The company's booth at trade shows usually has a long line of computer geeks eager to see what the latest mic is, and earlier this year we were wowed by both the Spark Digital (US$199.95) and the just-released Nessie ($99.95). Now that the initial crush of orders for the Spark Digital has subsided somewhat, I was able to get a review device for a test drive and found a lot to like in this compact microphone for Mac and iPad.

Design

When I say it's a compact microphone, I'm saying that the Spark Digital isn't as massive as the Blue Yeti that I currently use. It comes with a small adjustable tilt stand that not only has some vibration-isolating padding on the bottom of it, but also includes a separate shock mount that suspends the microphone body from a series of elastic cords.

The body of the mic is dark metallic blue with light metallic blue highlights at top and bottom. On the front is a chrome-plated Blue logo, and a mute/gain/volume knob. There is an LED in the knob, as well as a set of four tiny LEDs that glow orange to denote gain level or blue for output level. On the back is a switch for Focus Control -- more about that later.

The top of the mic contains the action -- in the words of Blue Mics, it's the "same studio-grade condenser capsule and hand-tuned components for high-fidelity recording and consistence performance in any situation– vocals, drums, piano, speech, location recording and more." The capsule is in a see-through metal cage that acts as a bit of a pop filter, although professionals will want to invest in a separate pop filter to keep those plosives from wrecking their recordings.

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With the Spark Digital, Blue Mics includes two cables. One is used to connect the microphone to a USB port on a Mac or PC, and includes a separate headphone jack for monitoring what you're recording. The other cable also has that separate headphone jack, but ends in a 30-pin connector for use with an iPad. If you wish to connect it to a fourth-generation iPad or iPad mini, you'll have to invest in a separate Apple 30-pin Dock connector to Lightning adapter.

To carry all this on the road with you, there's a nice microfiber-lined carrying bag with the Spark Digital logo on the side. There's a separate pocket for the cables, with the mic being carried in the main pocket of the bag.

Functionality

Mac

According to Blue Microphones, the Spark Digital was designed from the start to provide a rich and vibrant sound, perfect for podcasters and singers but also appropriate for many musical instruments. I'll get to the meat of the review right now -- the sound quality of the Spark Digital absolutely blew me away, and that's coming from someone who has used a Blue Mics Yeti for years. Listen to the following Garage Band recording on the Mac in which I first record a sentence with the Yeti, then the same sentence with the Spark Digital without Focus Control enabled, and finally with Focus Control enabled.

Sound is quite subjective, but for me the Spark Digital recordings sound much more realistic than the one from the Yeti. There's much less background noise in the Spark Digital recordings, and the Yeti seems to be emphasizing the lower tones in my voice, making it boom a bit more. The Yeti sounds a bit more "mechanical" to my ears. Note that the Yeti was set up with a similar cardiod pickup pattern to what is normal for the Spark Digital.

There's less of a difference between the Spark Digital recordings with Focus Control disabled and enabled. However, after listening repeatedly to the two recordings, the one made with Focus Control enabled seems to me to be the most accurate representation of what my voice actually sounds like. It's just a hint "warmer" than the recording made without Focus Control on.

Monitoring with a set of headphones worked well; just changing the output settings to "Blue Microphones Spark Digital" allows monitoring of everything that's being picked up by the mic.

iPad

The Yeti can't be used with an iPad, so I was unable to do a similar comparison between the two Blue Mics. Instead, I did a comparison between the built-in microphone of the iPad and the Spark Digital. Unsurprisingly, the Spark Digital did a wonderful job. Llsten to the recording below to hear the built-in microphone first, followed by the Spark Digital.

Unless you love background noise and hisses, you'll agree that the Spark Digital recording is hands-down superior (this was done with Focus Control turned on). I apologize for cutting off the beginning of the second recording.

Once again, monitoring worked perfectly through the headphones; I could even hear the "countdown" cue to the start of the recording.

For the first time, I could actually imagine recording a podcast or music (if I had any musical talent other than singing) on the iPad. It's almost hard to believe that both recordings were made in the same location on the same iPad -- the Spark Digital did an excellent job of ignoring the background noises that the iPad's built-in mic seemed to exaggerate.

Conclusion

With the Spark Digital, Blue Microphones has created what is probably the best microphone for recording both on iPad and Mac or PC. The unique design and superb electronics combine to make a microphone that excels in capturing voices in a most realistic way and would most likely be (I was unable to test) excellent for musical recordings as well. For podcasters who want to get the most out of their computer or iPad, there's currently no equal to the Spark Digital.

Blue Microphones' Nessie is now out on the market, months after we took it for a spin at this year's CES. Named after a cryptid like its older sibling the Yeti, Nessie comes with three modes -- one for raw audio, another optimized for richer vocals and one that enhances instrumental music. The company claims the USB microphone delivers studio-enhanced sound in real-time, and you don't need to go through manual post-production unless you chose to record in raw audio. Made to work directly with both PCs and Macs, you can also use Nessie with iPads using a 30-pin to USB or a Lightning to USB adapter. Available now for $99 at Apple's retail and online stores, Nessie will also surface on Best Buy, Guitar Center, and other Blue retailers at a later date. Before you whip out those credit cards, though, check out the sound samples and comparisons recorded using the device after the break.

April Fools' Day is tough. Believe us. We know. It's 24 hours of fake news, bad jokes and Gangnam Style references. But not all of it is the internet equivalent to lining a toilet with plastic wrap. Sometimes, good stuff manages to slip through the proverbial cracks in the web. After the break, check out some of the holiday's highlights. If you dare.

Most of us here at TUAW are in love with the products designed and sold by Blue Microphones. The company makes some amazing gear for recording podcasts and the like, and now there's a new member to the Blue Mic family -- Nessie (US$99, expected to ship in the first half of 2013). Nessie works with both Macs and PCs, and can be adapted to iPads for portable recording with the addition of an Apple Camera Connection Kit (not included).

Besides the cool design, which mimics those images of the legendary Loch Ness Monster swimming with its head above water, Nessie is designed to make all of your recordings sound a lot better than what you'd hear from a standard USB microphone.

The adaptive capabilities provide onboard equalization and boosting, creating a full and rich sound for voiceovers and podcasts. There's a built-in pop filter to eliminate those nasty plosives, and a shockmount to eliminate rumbling if you happen to touch your desktop during recording.

To hear just how good Nessie can make you sound, the company supplied sample recordings of a voiceover and a guitar demo. Check 'em out, and then keep your eyes open for this newest addition to the Blue Mic family.

It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world.

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Blue Microphones is known for its top notch USB microphones. Heck, the Yeti is a staple around the Engadget compound for recording podcasts and voiceovers. The company's latest, Nessie, continues the audio maven's fascination with cryptozoology while delivering some interesting new features along with another fantastic retro design. At the top is the mic itself, which looks quite a bit like the Snowball. It sits at the end of a long arm with some slight articulation. The small extension allows you to either focus Nessie up for tall casters or down for recording the occasional acoustic guitar track. At the opposite end is the round, surprisingly heavy base that is home to the headphone volume knob as well as a few other controls.

Around back is the 3.5mm jack itself, right above the three postion mode switch. The first position is raw audio, which applies no effects at all. Second is vocals, which boosts mids and applies a slightly agressive compressor and limiter to beef up recordings of people speaking or singing. Last is music mode, which pulls back on the compression and boosts the highs to add a bit more brightness. The knob on the prototype was quite stiff -- in fact it was alost impossible to turn with one hand -- but the company says the final version wont suffer such issues. Lastly, at the bottom of the neck is a red capacitive button that mutes the mic. Simply brush you finger across it and the blue LED in the base gently pulses to let you know it's muted.

Inside the housing is some specialized circuitry that helps mask the most basic common mistakes you make while recording. The processor dynamically alters the EQ and levels, while also applying a de-esser to keep your latest bedroom podcast crisp and clean. The pop filter and shock mount also helps keep noise from shaking and plosives to a minimum. Most importantly, Nessie also keeps Blue Mic's history of affordability with a price of $99. Head on after the break for a video tour of the hardware along with an audio sample.

Adding to its line of capable USB recording tech, Blue Microphones has pulled the curtain back on the Nessie at CES 2013. This latest offering looks to get cozy on your desktop and lend a hand with vocal, instrument and voiceover recording all while adapting in real time to keep those captures free from extra editing or mixing. The Nessie touts a built-in pop filter and shock mount to keep unwanted noise down alongside adaptive processing that includes EQ, de-esser and level control that adjusts automatically during the session. Using a single, custom-tuned condenser capsule and cardioid pattern, the mic features three recording modes configured to capture vocals, instruments and raw audio that you'll want to tweak afterwards. Controls for headphone volume and muting with support for zero-latency headphone monitoring are all on board as well. The unit is also optimized for recording with Apple's slate, but you'll need to pick up an adapter to do so. No word on when the Nessie will hit shelves, but when it does, it's expected to carry a $99 price tag. If you're jonesin' for a few more details, consult the full PR after the break.

It was all the way back in January, when Blue Microphones made its CES announcements, that the Spark Digital first broke cover alongside two other mobile recording devices. Our interest was immediately piqued thanks to the mic's USB 2.0 and iOS connectivity, which allows it to support the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch via the 30-pin jack. After a grueling wait that lasted until just a few weeks ago, Blue's latest offering finally arrived. Was the long wait worth it? Does the Spark Digital do its part to bolster Blue Microphones' reputation for stellar recording wares? Join us past the break as we put the peripheral through its paces and give you answers to those very queries. %Gallery-173466%

The final member of the Blue Microphones trio that we saw introduced back at CES is finally hitting shelves. Blue's dual-connecting Spark Digital is now shipping from Apple and Best Buy with other retailers soon to follow. If you'll recall, the mobile recording peripheral touts the label of "the first true studio condenser microphone made for both iPad and USB." An adjustable desk stand, all of the requisite cables and six month subscriptions to both Gobbler and SoundCloud Pro are included right out of the box. You can snag one for yourself for $200 just as fast as you can click. However, if you've already splurged for a new iPad, iPad mini or the iPhone 5, you'll need a Lightning adapter before you can get started.

When it comes to microphones for the iPhone and iPad, I have to admit that I haven't been too impressed with what's been delivered over the past few years. For example, the original iRig Mic from IK Multimedia was quite noisy, although the iRig Mic Cast improved on that somewhat. The original Mikey from Blue Mics was also an improvement, but now the company is shipping the new Mikey Digital (US$99.99) that works with recent iPhones and all iPads to capture stereo sound with clarity.

Design

The exterior of the Mikey Digital is similar to that of the the second-generation Mikey; a small rectangular dongle that plugs into the dock connector port of your iPhone 4 or 4S, or any model of iPad. One concern about using the dock connector port is that persistent rumors are pointing towards a new and more compact connector for iOS devices. Should that happen, it's likely that some sort of adapter will allow dock connector peripherals such as the Mikey Digital to work with newer devices.

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The Mikey Digital is much larger than the iRig Mic Cast, which plugs into the headphone port of your iOS device. The Blue device also features a swivel, so you can "aim" the microphone at your subject for the best possible sound. There are two other goodies in the box, a small carrying bag and a guitar jack adapter.

The Mikey D., as the user guide affectionately refers to it, has a sensitivity switch that toggles among loud, auto and quiet settings. Each setting has an LED associated with it so you get visual feedback of the switch setting. In addition, there's a 1/8" stereo input port (you use the adapter to plug a guitar or other instrument in for recording) and a micro-USB port in case you want to charge your device while recording.

Functionality

No microphone is useful without an application to receive the input. When the Mikey D. is under the control of a recording / editing app such as GarageBand, all three LEDs light up. During recording, those LEDs will flash red if you're overloading the mic and clipping sound.

To test the Mikey D. under real-life conditions, I recorded the closing words from the Daily Update using both my regular setup -- a Blue Mic Yeti attached to my iMac -- and an iPhone 4S with the Mikey D. attached. In both cases, the app used for recording was GarageBand.

First, the Blue Mic Yeti on my iMac:

Now, the Blue Mic Mikey Digital on my iPhone:

Both sentences were recorded simultaneously, with the two microphones located as close to each other as possible. On the Mikey Digital, I set the sensitivity to "auto." The Blue Yeti is set in such a way as to be unidirectional, and the audio sounded somewhat more realistic and with less background noise from the fan in my iMac. The Mikey Digital picked up a bit more background noise, and the sound was less "warm" and "full" than what was captured with the Yeti.

It's important to note that neither of these recordings were post-processed. Removing background noise from both of the recordings would help, and the Mikey Digital recording could probably stand to have the low end boosted a bit.

The important thing to remember with the Mikey Digital is that it is meant for portable recording, and for that purpose I think it does the job better than any portable mic I've tried so far. For off the cuff recording, I'm probably not going to carry along a MacBook Air and my bulky Yeti. Pulling an iPhone out of one pocket and the Mikey Digital from another is the perfect way to have a very capable sound recording studio for music or voice anywhere.

Conclusion

Blue Mics really hit the ball out of the park with the Mikey Digital. Compared to earlier models of the Mikey and to other "made for iOS" microphones, the capabilities and sound quality of the Mikey Digital are significantly better.

Pros

Attractive and well-built, without the cheap plasticky look of competitors

Excellent stereo sound capture

Ability to plug a musical instrument into the microphone via the 3.5 mm stereo input port and the included guitar jack adapter

Clipping indicator helps during setup of microphone to make sure you're not overloading it

Adjustability of the Mikey Digital swivel provides a way to capture the best quality sound while still keeping an eye on the recording app

Cons

Dock connector might not work with future iPhones and iPads, or may need an adapter to work with them

Who is it for?

Professional and amateur musicians, reporters, podcasters, bloggers, or anyone who needs to accurately reproduce sound in stereo from an iPhone or iPad

The second of Blue Microphone'sCES trio has broken cover. Mikey Digital, a mobile recording peripheral for the iPad and iPhone is now available at select retailers. If you're in need of a refresher, the retooled version of the original Mikey tracking unit connects to you Apple smartphone or tablet via the dock connector. The mic houses the same two condenser capsules found on the more robust Snowball and Yeti USB mics while sporting built-in sensitivity control and CD-quality analog / digital conversion. A 3.5mm audio jack is included for monitoring or either stereo line-in or mic-in -- if you're looking to tack on a few more gadgets when recording with the 230-degree rotating kit. USB pass-thru allows for charging while in the midst of a session and a LED clipping indicator keeps tabs on volume levels to ensure the best results. If all of that sounds too good to pass up, the Mikey Digital will hit your wallet for $99.99 just as soon at you can enter your shipping info.

In recent years, mobile and compact recording gear has, like so many other gadget types, become smaller and smaller in stature. We've seen add-ons for smartphones and tablets that aren't much larger than a quarter, along with mobile mics that boast USB compatibility. The Blue Microphones Tiki continues the trend, offering the same premium aesthetics we've come to expect fromthe company, along with top-notch audio quality. The Tiki is said to perform at its best with Skype-style video chats and voice recording, thanks in part to an intelligent mute and noise isolation features.

Let's be honest, though. Purchasing a USB microphone for the sole purpose of video chatting will be a tough sell for most folks. People like podcasters will expect a bit more functionality from a peripheral like this. Luckily, the unit boasts a "Natural Recording Mode" that promises instrument-tracking capabilities as well. But does the Tiki handle online banter, voice recording and guitar sounds well enough to warrant a $60 purchase? And exactly how smart is the intelligent mute? Read on to see what we discovered when we gave this flash drive-sized microphone the full-on review treatment. %Gallery-162897%